Edit to tape

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is described that allows edited media to be recorded to a sequential storage device. An edited time based stream of information of a source media is displayed. The edited time based stream is transferred to a sequential storage device to be recorded using an icon where the icon represents a function to be performed on the storage device.

BACKGROUND

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to media editing. In articular, thepresent invention relates to transferring edited media to a sequentialstorage device.

II. Background

Editing is generally the art of making subtle adjustments to a materialor materials in a form that communicates a message with maximum impact.In the area of video editing, the editor defines and shapes the videoand/or audio until the message to be delivered is accomplished.Generally, video editing may be divided into two categories linear videoediting and non-linear video editing. In linear video editing, theimages are taken in a sequential order. Stated differently, one ideaafter another must be previously conceived and then, the video is takenin the conceived chronological sequence. For example, suppose a video isto be taken of an office, the editor must first conceptualize as to whatthe scenes would be and in which sequence. The editor may want to take avideo of an entry into the Office. This scene perhaps followed by afocus on a pot plant in a corner. The scene may then move to the variousarticles on a desk and then, the scene shifting its focus to a window.In linear video editing, this is the precise sequence the video must betaken.

By contrast, in non-linear video editing, scenes may be taken in anyorder and later edited according to a desired sequence. Whether linearvideo editing or non-linear video editing approach is to be takengenerally depends on the video system that is to be used. Whilenon-linear video editing system may be more complicated, the advantageis that the video may be taken in any sequence and later, throughcareful observation of the video and a thoughtful process, the video maybe manipulated to communicate the message in the manner the editorwishes to convey with maximum impact. Due to its free format, the editorcan readily impute creativity without being constrained physically.

With the advancement of computer technology, further improvements havebeen made to the video editing system through a process calleddigitization. In particular, the digitization of video has had aprofound impact on non-linear video editing system. Previously, copiesof a film containing the video would be made. By cutting and splicingthe copies, an edited version of the original film was made. If theeditor was not satisfied, further copies of the original film were madeand the cutting and splicing would resume until a desired product wasobtained. In a digital video editing system, video is stored in astorage medium such as magnetic discs or laser discs thereby allowingthe video to be retrieved randomly and displayed on a display devicesuch as a monitor. This alleviates the burdensome technique of cuttingand splicing. Further, in random access, each image of the videooperates independently, thus, it is possible to retrieve a particularimage without sequentially going through other materials to reach theimage. Examples of sequential access would be films or magnetic tapes.By allowing images to be accessed randomly, video can be easilymanipulated into any desired sequence which is the heart of a non-linearvideo editing system.

In certain instances, it is desirable to record the edited video and/oraudio clips onto a tape. A clip generally defines movies, still images,nested sequences, video files and audio files. The recorded tape couldbe mass duplicated for distribution using conventional tape duplicatingmachines or the tape could serve as a permanent record for the editedclips. With the advent of powerful processors such as those to bedescribed later, it is now possible to perform edit to tape processwithin the video editing system itself. However, if the edit to tapeprocess requires too much effort on the part of the editor, the featuredistracts the editor during editing. In a known method, the editormanually calculates each and every start and end points of the videoand/or audio clips at a source calculates every corresponding start andend destination. It is desirable to provide a em that is easy to use anddoes not burden the

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus is described that allows edited media to berecorded to a sequential storage device. An edited time based stream ofinformation of a source media is displayed. The edited time based streamis transferred to a sequential storage device to be recorded using anicon where the icon represents a function to be performed on the storagedevice.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and detailed description to be followed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of examples and not aslimitations in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a diagram of a computer system that may contain anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 b is a diagram of a storage medium that may contain an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 1 c illustrates an example of a three point editing;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a Graphics User Interface (GUI) that may be usedwith an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 a is an example of a computer system 100 in which an embodimentof the invention may be incorporated. The computer system 100 comprisesa processor 101 coupled to a main memory 105 via a bus 103. The mainmemory 105 may be dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) or othersuitable memories. Data and instructions are stored in the main memory105 which are processed by the processor 101. Generally, coupled to thebus 103 is a read only memory (ROM) in which the basic input/outputinstructions (BIOS) are stored. Further coupled to the bus 103 arevarious controllers such as memory management unit (MMU), interruptcontroller, video controller, direct memory access controller (DMA) andinput/output(I/O) controller, among others, all which are not shown inthe figure. Further coupled to the bus 103 is an I/O interface 107 towhich the various I/O devices are coupled to. Examples of the I/Odevices are mass storage devices 111 such as magnetic disc drives and/oroptical disc drives, an alphanumeric input device 113 such as akeyboard, a cursor control device 117 such as a mouse or a trackball, adisplay device 119 such as a monitor or a liquid crystal display (LCD),a printer device 121 such as a printer, a communication device 123 suchas a modem and a network interface device 125 such as ethernet.

Additionally, a sequential storage device 127 such as a video tape deckor a video camcorder is coupled to the computer through the I/Ocontroller 107. For example, the sequential storage device 127 can beconnected through the printer port, modem port, or Apple FireWire port.Below is a list of deck protocols that may be used:

-   -   Apple® FireWire    -   Apple® FireWire Basic    -   JVC® RS-232    -   Pariasonic® RS-232    -   SonyD RS-422    -   Sony® RS-232    -   Sony® VISCA    -   Sony® LANC

Using the video tape deck as an example, the video tape deck 127 storesedited video clips and/or accompanying audio clips in a video tape 129formatted in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In its oneformat, the video tape 129 may be in “Black and Code”. Black and Codedefines a format in which the video tape is written with black pictureswith no sound and throughout the tape, timecodes are inserted. Timecodesallow the video tape deck 127 to keep track of the various positionswithin a tape thereby allowing quick and fast navigation through thetape. Generally, the video tape deck 127 is controlled in a manner suchthat when a clip is being recorded, the tape head backs up to a certaindistance and rolls forward to synchronize with the last frame using thetimecode and starts recording. In this manner, an unsightly gap betweenthe clip and the last frame recorded is not formed. Thus, between thetwo recorded clips, it is perceived as being one continuous clip.

The computer system 100 described above is readily availablecommercially. Preferably, The computer system 100 be one of theMacintosh® family of personal computers such as the Macintosh® Quadram,Macintosh® Performa™, PowerMac® brand personal computers manufactured byApple Computer®, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The processor can be one ofthe Power PC family of microprocessors such as the 604 or G3 PowerPC®such as those manufactured by Motorola®, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill.However, other systems and processors may be used. Generally, thepresent invention may be stored in a mass storage device 111 or astorage disc 112, which may be magnetic or optical, until such time theprocessor 101 retrieves from storage and down loads into the main memory105 for processing. FIG. 1 b is an example of a storage medium 150 whichmay be random access memory (RAM), hard disk, compact disc and/ormagnetic disc, among others. The storage medium 150 comprises edit totape icon identifiers 151, instruction and data codes 153 for edit totape icons to control the sequential storage device connected to thecomputer system and software 155 that manipulates the storage deviceunder control of the edit to tape icons.

Processor 101 processes the data and instructions from the main memory105. Command selections and information to direct the flow of data andinstructions to the processor 101 may be performed by a user via thealphanumeric device 113 and/or cursor control device 117 or voicerecognition. The processor 101 processes the data and instructions andthe results may be displayed on a display device 119.

FIG. 1 c illustrates an example of a three point editing to aid in theunderstanding of the invention. Three point editing is a method in whichthree editing points are selected between a source and a destination. Atthe source, a start point 161 (also referred to as in point) and an endpoint 162 (also referred to out point) are selected on a source media160 constituting the edited source media. At the destination media, anin point 166 is selected which is used to define the start point of thetransferred edited source media to be inserted at the destination media.Because the time duration t between the source in point 161 and thesource out point 162 does not change during the transfer, thedestination out point position 168 can be calculated from the selecteddestination in point 166 and the time duration t of the source in andout point. At the destination media 170, the edited source media 171 hasbeen inserted. Of course, this is but one form of three point editingand other forms of three point editing can be derived from the exampleabove.

FIG. 2 is an example of a graphics user interface (GUI) 200 that maybeused with an embodiment of the invention. However, other user interfacesmay be used according to a desired result by the designer. The GUI 200is displayed on a display device 119 (See FIG. 1 a) and aids the user incontrolling the flow of data and instructions to the processor 101.Typically, the GUI 200 comprises one or more windows, some which may beopened by the processor 101 in accordance with data and instructions andsome which may be opened by the user. The figure illustrates two windows210, 230. Window 210 is a viewer that performs as a source monitor inwhich various clips containing time based stream of information can beloaded. The loaded time based stream of information can be, but notlimited to, a plurality of video clips, a plurality of video and audioclips, or a plurality of audio clips. Once loaded in the window 210,editing can be performed on the time based stream of information using acontrol panel 220 located at the bottom of the window 210. The controlpanel 220 comprises a timeline 211 wherein the timeline keeps track ofthe chronological sequence of loaded time based stream of information.The timeline 211 includes two edit pointers 212, 213 that are used toselect the in point and the out point of the time based stream ofinformation which constitutes an edited time based stream of informationto be transferred to a destination.

The manipulation of the edit pointers 212, 213 can be performed by thepointing arrow 250. The pointing arrow 250 is operated by the userthrough the I/O device such as the cursor control device 117 (e.g., amouse or a trackball) or the alphanumeric device 113 or by speechrecognition. For example, the user can manipulate individually theposition of the edit pointers 212, 213 by placing the pointing arrow 250on the edit pointer desired to be moved; holding down a button locatedon the mouse, dragging the pointer to the desired position; andreleasing the button.

The control panel 220 of the above example further comprises a play icon215, a reverse icon 214, and a forward icon 216. These icons are used toplay the time based stream of information or move the position of theplayhead backward or forward within the timeline 211. The control panel220 also comprises a jog control icon 218 to jog one frame at a time anda shuttle control 217 that adjusts the frame speed of the video.

The second window 230 is an edit to tape window which allows the editedtime based stream of information to be transferred to a tape. At thebottom of the second window 230 is a second control panel 240 thatinterfaces with the video tape deck 127 connected to the computer. Thecontrol panel 240 comprises a play icon 242, a reverse icon 241, and aforward icon 243 used to play a time based stream of information of thevideo tape deck 127 or move the position of the playhead backward orforward. By manipulating the icons 241, 242 and 243, the video containedin the video tape deck 127 can be viewed at the window 220 and/or itsaudio can be heard in a speaker coupled to the computer. In oneembodiment, the icons 241, 242, 243 manipulate a copy of the videoand/or audio recorded in the video tape deck 127 that was previouslystored in the main memory 105. In this manner, the video tape deck 127need not actually come into operation until a video clip and/or an audioclip is to be recorded.

On the upper left and right corners of the window 230 are a plurality oftimecode indicators 244, 245 which in one embodiment can be used toposition the playhead of the video tape deck 127 on the video tape 129.Timecode allows for fast and accurate navigation through the tape deck127. The timecode indicators 244, 245 can be used to indicate in and outpoints for retrieval of a recorded clip in the tape deck 127 onto themain memory 105. In one embodiment, the upper left timecode indicator244 displays a duration of clip to be displayed and/or heard. The upperright timecode indicator 245 displays the current playhead position. Thetimecode contained in the upper right timecode indicator 245 can bechanged by entering a new timecode in the indicator 245. In oneembodiment, the timecode has the following format:

-   -   Hours; Minutes: Seconds: Frames        Thus, entering 01451609 sets the time code to 01: 45: 16: 09.

Note that the format is accurate to a frame and thus, the playhead isable to navigate and be positioned at a particular frame. In oneembodiment, one second is made equivalent to thirty frames. In thisinstance, entering fifty-five in the frame column causes the timecodeindicator 245 to automatically adjust the format to one second andfifteen frames.

The control panel 240 also comprises a mark in icon 233 and a mark outicon 234 which can be used to select an in point and an out point on aclip that is displayed on the second window 230. The selected in pointor the out point can be used as one of the three edit points in thethree point editing described above. Selecting the in point or the outpoint causes the playhead to be positioned to the selected in point or acalculated in point if the out point was selected. The control panel 240further comprises video icon 231 and audio icon 232 to select whichmedia is to be recorded by the video tape deck 127. For example,selecting the video icon 231 causes only the edited video clip to berecorded on the tape deck. Likewise, selecting the audio icon 232 causesonly the edited audio clip to be recorded on the tape deck. If both icon231, 232 are selected, both the video and audio sequence are recorded inthe tape deck. Similar to the control panel 220, the control panel 240also comprises a jog control icon 239 to jog one frame at a time and ashuttle control icon 238 that adjusts the frame speed of the video.

The control panel 240 further comprises a plurality of icons 235, 236,237 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Each iconrepresents an interaction with the video tape deck in a manner definedby the function of the icon. According to the embodiment three icons aredisplayed. The icon 235 represents an insert edit; the icon 236represents an assembly edit; and the icon 237 represents a preview edit.The functions represented by the icons are described below:

Insert editing: Insert editing is a form of an overwrite editing inwhich the edited source media is inserted at an in point of adestination media which is the position of the playhead. Overwriteediting is an editing where the edited source media replaces the currentdestination media by an equal length of the edited source media. Onefeature of the insert editing is that the original timecode encoded onthe tape remains preserved.

Assembly editing: Assembly editing is a form of an overwrite editing inwhich the edited source media is inserted at an in point which is theposition of the playhead. The difference between the insert editing andthe assembly editing is that the assembly editing overwrites theexisting timecode on the tape.

Preview: Preview simulates the insert to tape operation but nothing isactually recorded on the tape. The feature gives the editor a preview ofthe edit to tape operation before the actual recording takes place.

The edit to tape operations can be performed using various methods. Inone method, the steps comprise selecting three points using three pointediting, dragging the edited source media to the edit to tape windowusing the pointing arrow 250 and placing it there which activates adefault icon. The default icon can be one of the inserting editing icon235, assembly overwrite editing icon 236 or preview editing icon 237. Inanother method, once the three points in the three point editing havebeen selected, dragging the edited source media using the pointing arrow250 to one of icons 235, 236, 237 which activates that icon. In yetanother method, once the three points in the three point editing havebeen selected, clicking one of the icons 235, 236, 237 using thepointing arrow 250 which activates that icon. the list of methods thatmay be used to activate the edit to tape icons 235, 236, 237 describedabove should not be construed as limitations but as examples.

Note that the two window systems described above, is but one embodiment.In another embodiment, the source media has been already edited andstored in a file, for example, which is represented as a file icon. Bydragging the file icon to the edit to tape window or using the variousmethods described immediately above, the edited source media is recordedonto the tape.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.In block 301, three point editing is performed between the source mediaand the tape media. In block 302, insert edit to tape is performed usingan edit to tape icon that represents a function to be performed on thetape.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evidentthat various modifications and changes can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings areaccordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

1. A method comprising: displaying an indicia of a time based stream ofinformation of a source media; editing said time based stream using atleast one edit point; and transferring said edited time based stream toa sequential storage device using an icon, wherein said icon representsa function to be performed on said sequential storage device.
 2. Amethod as in claim 1, wherein said editing comprises a three pointediting between said source media and a destination media.
 3. A methodas in claim 1, wherein transferring said edited time based streamcomprises: transferring said edited time based stream to a portion of awindow, said window having at least one icon; said icon performing afunction on said sequential device by default.
 4. A method as in claim1, wherein transferring said edited time based stream comprises:transferring said edited time based stream to said icon, said iconperforming said function on said sequential device.
 5. A method as inclaim 1, wherein transferring said edited time based stream comprises:clicking said icon with a cursor control device, said icon performingsaid function on said sequential device.
 6. A method as in claim 1,wherein said function is one of an insert edit, an assembly edit and apreview edit.
 7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising: black andcoding a tape contained in said sequential device.
 8. A method as inclaim 1, further comprising: using a timecode indicator to position aplayhead of said sequential storage device.
 9. A method as in claim 1,further comprising: using one of a mark in icon and a mark out icon toposition a playhead of said sequential storage device.
 10. An apparatuscomprising: a display device to display an indicia of a time basedstream of information of a source media; means for editing said timebased stream using at least one edit point; at least one icon displayedon said display device, wherein said icon represents a function to beperformed on a sequential storage device; and means for transferringsaid edited time based stream to said sequential storage device usingsaid icon.
 11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said editing meansincludes means for performing a three point editing between said sourcemedia and a destination media.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 10, furthercomprising: means for insert editing said edited time based stream tosaid sequential storage device using said icon.
 13. An apparatus as inclaim 12, wherein said insert editing means is a processor executing asequence of instructions.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 10, furthercomprising: means for assembly editing said edited time based stream tosaid sequential storage device using said icon.
 15. An apparatus as inclaim 14, wherein said assembly editing means is a processor executingsequence of instructions.
 16. An apparatus as in claim 10, furthercomprising: means for preview editing said edited time based streamusing said icon.
 17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said previewediting means is a processor executing a sequence of instructions. 18.An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said sequential device furthercomprising: a tape having a black and code format.
 19. An apparatus asin claim 10, further comprising: means for positioning a playhead ofsaid sequential storage device.
 20. An apparatus as in claim 19, whereinsaid positioning means is a timecode indicator.
 21. An apparatus as inclaim 19, wherein said positioning means is one of a mark in icon and amark out icon.
 22. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said editingmeans is a cursor control device.
 23. An apparatus as in claim 10,wherein said transferring means is a cursor control device.
 24. A systemcomprising: a computing device; a display device to display an indiciaof a time based stream of information of a source media; at least oneicon displayed on said display device, wherein said icon represents afunction to be performed on a sequential storage device; and saidcomputing device including a first circuitry configured to edit saidtime based stream using at least one edit point, and a second circuitryconfigured to transfer said edited time based stream to said sequentialstorage device using said icon.
 25. A system as in claim 24, whereinsaid first circuitry includes a third circuitry configured to perform athree point editing between said source media and a destination media.26. A system as in claim 24, further comprising: a fourth circuitryconfigured to insert edit said edited time based stream to saidsequential storage device using said icon.
 27. A system as in claim 24,further comprising: a fifth circuitry configured to assembly edit saidedited time based stream to said sequential storage device using saidicon.
 28. A system as in claim 24, further comprising: a sixth circuitryconfigured to preview edit said edited time based stream using saidicon.
 29. A system as in claim 24, wherein said sequential devicefurther comprising: a tape having a black and code format.
 30. A systemas in claim 24, further comprising: a seventh circuitry configured toposition a playhead of said sequential storage device.
 31. A machinereadable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences ofinstructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause saidcomputer system to perform a method comprising: displaying an indicia ofa time based stream of information of a source media; editing said timebased stream using at least one edit point; and transferring said editedtime based stream to a sequential storage device using an icon, whereinsaid icon represents a function to be performed on said sequentialstorage device.
 32. A machine readable medium as in claim 31, whereinsaid editing comprises a three point editing between said source mediaand a destination media.
 33. A machine readable medium as in claim 32,wherein transferring said edited time based stream comprises:transferring said edited time based stream to a portion of a window,said window having at least one icon; said icon performing a function onsaid sequential device by default.
 34. A machine readable medium as inclaim 32, wherein transferring said edited time based stream comprises:transferring said edited time based stream to said icon, said iconperforming said function on said sequential device.
 35. A machinereadable medium as in claim 32, wherein transferring said edited timebased stream comprises: clicking said icon with a cursor control device,said icon performing said function on said sequential device.
 36. Amachine readable medium as in claim 32, wherein said function is one ofan insert edit, an assembly edit and a preview edit.
 37. A machinereadable medium as in claim 32, further comprising: black and coding atape contained in said sequential device.
 38. A machine readable mediumas in claim 32, further comprising: using a timecode indicator toposition a playhead of said sequential storage device.
 39. A machinereadable medium as in claim 32, further comprising: using one of a markin icon and a mark out icon to position a playhead of said sequentialstorage device.